Demonstration and commercialization of Bio rational attractant based male and female attractant & kill strategy for the successful control of fruit flies in Asia & Africa.

Damage caused by fruit flies is a huge problem, both in the developed and developing world. The insects lay eggs in soft fruit and vegetables which means the food rots and cannot be harvested. Fruit flies cannot be controlled effectively by insecticides because farmers in developing countries cannot afford to buy them and in addition, the fruit flies have become resistant so that the chemicals do not work. An increase in the productivity of soft fruit and vegetables is a vital part of the development of these countries as it will allow farmers to grow and harvest more produce for their own use and to sell to the lucrative overseas markets. Russell IPM has developed a highly effective and safe biological system for controlling fruit flies which utilises food and sexual attractants to lure the insects into traps. This project will test and promote this technology in Africa and Asia.